Speak out to prevent elder abuse

The Elder
Protection Service at Tui Ora and Taranaki Safe Families Trust have joined
forces to promote World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. A free seminar is
being held in South Taranaki with former senior police detective Grant Coward
the guest speaker.

Callum
Williamson, Taranaki Safe Families Trust co-ordinator, says figures indicate
that over half the calls to the New Plymouth police are domestic violence
related. However, it’s likely that many
more incidents of abuse go unreported.
And for elderly victims the figures are likely to be worse.

“No one
wants to hurt their own family but the reality is, a lot of hurt and harm comes
from family members.”

The best
words to use for a neighbour, friend or relative who might be the victim of
abuse are as simple as saying Are you Ok? he says.

David Lloyd,
of Tui Ora, says the local Elder Protection Service is free and confidential,
although it’s not a crisis intervention service and anyone in immediate risk should
seek police help.

“Don’t be
afraid and think you are meddling in someone else’s life. Don’t be afraid to contact our services and
ask for advice.”

Mr Lloyd says
he receives at least one referral a week and all the cases he’s dealt with
since starting in the job in March were family members, with the abuse centred
on financial issues.

“But 99 per
cent of the time they don’t want any action to be taken. They know it’s not right but because it’s a
family member they live with it.”

One area he’s
working in is educating rest home staff and managers. Good procedures in the aged care sector are
evident and it’s not hidden like it might once have been. But staff in resthomes might be witness to
visiting family taking advantage of or abusing elderly parents, he says. “When
people go into a rest home the abuse might not stop and staff who hear or see
things need to know what to do.”

One way
older people could protect themselves is through Enduring Power of
Attorney. “You need to make sure you
have the right person so we recommend having two people, someone for your
property and someone for your health and wellbeing. Those two people need to
communicate and it doesn’t vest too much power in the one hands.”

It’s best to have the legal documentation drawn up when someone is feeling well
and in the right mind.

“Don’t wait until
you are in hospital and the doctor needs consent for a procedure because often
it’s too late then and they might get the wrong person.”

Those unable
to afford services can contact the Taranaki Commmunity Law Trust, which runs
clinics around Taranaki.